The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to take a final decision on the probability or not of keeping sensitive election materials for the 2023 polls with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as it usually does.
This was made known by the INEC commissioner for information and voter education, Festus Okoye.
It will be recalled that the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu had in the wake of the declared interest of the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele in the 2023 presidential race before eventually stepping down, said the electoral body may have to consider alternative options in storing sensitive materials so as not to compromise the process.
However, Okoye said due to the logistics involved in conducting a general election and the volume of materials that have to be moved, INEC is actively weighing its options.
He added during a Sunrise Daily interview session with Channels TV that a final decision on the matter is yet to be taken as the commission is yet to sit down with the CBN to review plans for the 2023 elections.
Okoye disclosed that for the logistics involved in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) moved the materials to the airport and they were dispatched straight to INEC offices.
He stressed this was possible because they were stand-alone elections with a limited number of voters and the strategy may not work during the 2023 general elections where many states and Abuja will be involved simultaneously.
